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Regardless of what you need to move them for, it’s not a process that you have to be scared of because you can do it without stripping paint off the walls or damaging the wallpaper. You can remove and reuse your LED light strips. It only takes some time and a blow dryer.Take a flat object like a butter knife or credit card, and slide it underneath the LED strip light corner. Once you succeed in lifting the end, keep removing the length of the light strip with the help of the object.LED strip lights are designed to be easy to cut apart with a pair of scissors. Each LED has a pair of copper dots at the end. As long as you cut between the dots, all of the LEDs will work.
Table of Contents
Can you take off LED strip lights and put them back on?
Take a flat object like a butter knife or credit card, and slide it underneath the LED strip light corner. Once you succeed in lifting the end, keep removing the length of the light strip with the help of the object.
Can you cut LED lights and put them in different places?
LED strip lights are designed to be easy to cut apart with a pair of scissors. Each LED has a pair of copper dots at the end. As long as you cut between the dots, all of the LEDs will work.
Can LED strip lights catch fire?
The possibility of led strip lights catching fire is minuscule, even though they are hot to touch. However, the temperature is much lower than that of an incandescent bulb.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
But do LED strips face the same threat?
The possibility of LED strips catching fire is tiny, although they are hot to the touch. However, the temperature is much lower than that of an incandescent bulb. Incandescent bulbs have a filament that gives off excessive heat, the light sources can ignite a fire if overheated, but because LED lights produce light at a lower temperature, they don’t catch fire as easily.
In this article, you will learn how LED strips are safer when it comes to fire hazards.
We’ll see how LEDs and incandescent bulbs compare and why LEDs have an advantage. Most modern lighting solutions revolve around LED strips. You’ll soon understand why.
In addition, we will also see how you can extend the life of your LED strip by ticking a few boxes. Continue reading.
Can LED lights catch on fire?
LED lights are unlikely to start a fire. The bulbs don’t get hot enough to ignite anything. The biggest risks are faulty wiring or overloaded circuits. This is often caused by the way they are installed, rather than an issue with the light itself.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
LED lights are unlikely to start a fire. The lightbulbs don’t get hot enough to ignite anything. The biggest risks are faulty wiring or overloaded circuits. This is often caused by the way they are installed rather than a problem with the fixture itself.
Buying an LED light has a reduced chance of starting a fire. But that doesn’t mean the risks don’t exist. Read on to find out how to protect your family.
Like lights make fire
Can LED string lights cause a fire? To understand this, we need to know how lights can burst into flames. Some of the most common ways they start a fire are:
The light bulb gets too hot
Loose electrical wires that create sparks
Brittle wiring
Heat generated by LED lights
The amount of heat they produce is determined by the way the light is produced. In conventional light bulbs, this is done by burning a filament. This produces a lot of light, but also requires a lot of electricity. Also, traditional light bulbs generate a lot of heat, increasing the likelihood that they will start a fire.
So, do LED lights get hot enough to start a fire? LED lamps use a semiconductor to conduct current through the diode. This gives them some advantages. First, it uses 75 percent less electricity and lasts 25 percent longer than traditional light bulbs. It also gives off much less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Because the bulb is cooler, you don’t have to worry about something making contact and bursting into flames.
Loose electrical wires
One of the biggest risks is a loose electrical wire. This is particularly common with Christmas lights that need to be plugged into an outlet. If the wires are exposed, they can create sparks. A spark is often enough to start a fire, especially if there are flammable objects near the outlet. There are a few ways you can reduce the risks of this event.
Check the lights thoroughly and make sure the cord is in good condition.
Monitor the lights. Flickering or dimming can indicate problems in the current flow.
When you’re done with the Christmas lights, pack them away carefully. Put them in a box that rodents can’t eat through.
Brittle wiring
The next thing to consider is the condition of the bulb. This is most common with traditional incandescent bulbs. Exceeding the wattage may result in excessive heat generation. It will also cause the pear to become more brittle. This can increase the likelihood that they will start a fire.
The easiest way to solve the problem is to adjust the voltages. You want to make sure you don’t overstep these limits. The voltage of the bulb can be found on the package.
Types of LED lights and their fire hazard
There are a few types of LED lights that you can buy. Each of these procedures comes with some unique risks and benefits. Let’s take a quick look at the options.
strip lights
This is one of the most popular types of LED lights. In this case, they resemble a long rope. People like them for their versatility. You can wrap them around a balcony or driveway. But can LED strips cause a fire?
The risks are very low. Like most other types of LED lights, the bulbs don’t get hot enough to ignite anything. However, it is best to do a test. Leave it on for several hours. Then touch them with your finger. It might be a little warm, but it’s unlikely to be hot enough to make you uncomfortable.
Christmas lights
Nothing ruins the holidays like your house burning down. This is often a heightened risk time, with fire departments responding to more emergencies. But can LED Christmas lights cause a fire?
While LED lights have been linked to some fires, they may not be the primary cause. As previously mentioned, frayed wires increase the risk of sparks. Because Christmas lights are thrown in and out of a box every year, there is a higher risk that they will be in poor condition. The tree could also increase the risk of fire as it may be made of combustible materials. That’s why it’s so important to check all the lights before you decorate with them.
Another common problem with Christmas lights is that you overload the circuits with too many lights. An overloaded circuit can cause short circuits. Check the total load of the lamps before connecting them. Often you want to keep them under 15 amps.
Grow lights
Perhaps the riskiest type of LED is a grow light. Unlike the other strains, these are designed to generate some heat. This is necessary for the plants to grow. But can LED grow lights cause a fire?
Again, often the cause of a grow light fire isn’t a problem with the lights themselves. It’s a problem with the way the lights were set up. For example, many plant lights are placed near water. Water droplets don’t play well with electrical wires. They can also be subject to overload circuits.
Adding to the risks is the size of the grow room. Most are on the small side, so when a fire starts it spreads quickly. Things like fertilizer can fuel the flames. The good news is that as long as everything is set up correctly, you don’t have to worry about the plant lights starting a fire.
leave the light on
One of the advantages of LED lights is that they are cheaper to run than traditional incandescent bulbs. Because of this, some people like to leave them on all night. But is that okay?
It’s okay to leave LED lights on all night as they don’t get as hot as other incandescent bulbs, the risk of them starting a fire is extremely low. These conditions make LED lights ideal for night lights.
Sleeping with LED lights
Although the risk of fire is extremely low, there are a few other reasons you might not want to sleep with a white or bluish LED light. These include:
The light interrupts your sleep
Higher risk of depression and other mood disorders
Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to concentrate
The ultra-white, bright light from LEDs can prevent our bodies from releasing melatonin, making these lamps great for getting work done on a project, but not so good for helping our bodies sleep.
So if you’re using an LED night light, make sure you can really turn it down or work with a different color light like red.
This reduces the chance of your LED lights catching a fire
As we have seen, the risk of LED lights causing a fire is minimal. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take some steps to reduce the risks even further.
Buy quality lamps
The first thing you should do is buy quality lamps. This will ensure they last a long time. These lights have fewer problems with faulty wiring. Often it is an electrical problem rather than a problem with the LED bulb that starts a fire. Because of this, it’s best to pay a little more for a decent LED light.
Check the voltage limits
Another common problem is that the outlet is overloaded. This can increase the likelihood of a short circuit. The best way to prevent this is to check how much power the lights are using. This is often less than conventional light bulbs. Avoid plugging more than 15 amps into a single outlet.
Final Thoughts
LED lights are among the safest lights on the market. Since they don’t get as hot as other lamps, the risk of them causing a fire is very low. You just have to make sure they are a good safe brand and set up properly.
Can you Restick LED lights on wall?
Regardless of what you need to move them for, it’s not a process that you have to be scared of because you can do it without stripping paint off the walls or damaging the wallpaper. You can remove and reuse your LED light strips. It only takes some time and a blow dryer.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
To remove and re-stick LED light strips, unplug the light strip and then use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive backing. Then you can carefully remove it from the wall without damaging the paint. You can then mount the light strip in a different location using an inexpensive double-sided adhesive film.
As you’ve probably just learned, removing an LED light strip isn’t that difficult, although you do need to be careful. Another point worth noting is that you also need to apply an adhesive backing to reattach the light strip to another wall. Let’s go over a few details on how to do this properly so that you can effectively reuse and recycle your LED light strips.
How to reuse LED light strips
One of the advantages of using LED light strips is that you can take them with you. They are not like lighting fixtures that have to stay in the house or apartment once installed.
Because the lights look great when set up, there’s no reason to leave them behind when moving house. Once you’ve settled into your new home, you can put your favorite decoration back on the wall as long as you take the right steps.
On the other hand, you may not be moving but would like to mount the light strips on a different wall or room. If your entertainment system is audio visual, the bright LED lights can affect picture quality. Whatever your reason for moving the stripes, it’s not difficult to remove them from your walls with a little patience.
How to remove LED light strips without damaging your walls
Unless the LED strip lights are falling off due to a change in the color of your walls, you probably don’t want to have to touch up missing color sections. LED strip lights have a strong adhesive backing that keeps them securely on the wall. The adhesive is capable of stripping paint. You don’t want to rip the strips off, instead take your time and gently peel them off.
It’s best to start at one end. Trying to peel off the center strip is frustrating. It can also damage the molding and the wall. Once you’ve freed one end, carefully work your way down the strip until it’s completely free. Now you can reattach it to another wall.
And it’s worth noting that sometimes the adhesive backing is just too strong and doesn’t come off cleanly. In that case, just assume that you’ll either have to leave the light there or repaint it, and plan accordingly.
However, most models use an adhesive strip that, while strong, will give way if you apply some heat. We’ll discuss how you can use heat to perhaps protect your wall and streamline the removal of your light strip in our step-by-step section below.
Here’s how to re-stick your light strip somewhere else
The goal is to reuse your LED light strips after you take them off. There’s no reason why you can’t use the strips on another wall. The only problem is that the light strips will last long after you remove them from the wall as the self-adhesive backing is lost when you take it off.
Don’t worry though, because you have a solution, and it’s easy and cheap too, so don’t worry there either. By simply purchasing and applying another double-sided backing such as Large Command Strips (on Amazon) or double-sided mounting tape (also on Amazon) you can reapply your lightstrip.
And if you use the command strips, you might have to use a ton, but you’re more likely to be able to remove the strips without damaging the paint since these strips are specifically designed to protect the walls.
Remove and reattach LED light bars in 4 easy steps
When you’re ready to detach LED light strips and reattach them to a different location, there are 4 simple steps to follow. Let’s start with the first and most basic, peel off the light strip and also heat the glue.
Step 1: Peel off the light strip and heat the glue
It seems obvious to unplug any electrical device before working on it, but light strips are a little different. Sometimes the extra light is helpful when trying to see the end of the strip. Although LED lights are low voltage, they still plug into a 120V outlet. Unplugging the lights ensures you don’t get electrocuted.
The adhesive on the back of the LED light strip does not come off easily as it is designed to stick to a surface for years. If you’re not careful, pulling the strip will remove paint. To avoid damaging the wall, heat the adhesive before removing the light strip (a hair dryer works great for this). You can concentrate the heat exactly where you want it.
Slowly move the blow dryer down the length of the strip, perhaps on low to medium heat. You want all of the glue to soften and come off without causing damage. It makes it easier to peel off the strip without removing the wall paint. Apply the heat until you feel it become easier to peel off the strip.
Step 2: Find an end and a corner
It’s easier to start at the end of the strip, and it doesn’t matter which one. Find a corner that is easy for you to reach. You’ll also need a thin, flat object, such as a coin, that works well, especially dimes. You can also use a credit card or butter knife. Whatever item you use, be careful not to chip the paint.
You want to slide the flat object under the corner. The glue should be soft from the heat, so all you have to do is work it in. Once you’ve lifted a corner, keep wiggling the object under the length of string until you reach the other end.
The reciprocating motion does not scratch the wall surface, while the light strip is also gently lifted and removed. If the glue is very stubborn, get a helper to hold the hair dryer and continuously heat the glue while moving along the light strip.
You should gently tug on the strip if the adhesive separates. Pulling too hard can damage the molding and wall. You won’t want to stop removing the LED light strip once you’ve started. The hair dryer only softened the glue a little. After cooling, the glue hardens again and you run the risk of damaging the wall.
Step 3: Remove the sticky residue
After removing the LED light strip, you will see a sticky residue on the wall. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean the wall is damaged, it just means it just needs a good cleaning. If there is only a small residue, you can use your thumb.
Rub the stuck-on adhesive in a circular motion. It causes it to bunch up and you can easily lift it off your wall. If there is a lot of it, take a soft sponge or rag and clean it with soap and water.
Step 4: Reapply glue and reuse
Once you know where you will be reusing the LED light strips, it’s time to reapply the glue. As listed above, you can use one of two great options: large command strips (available on Amazon) or double-sided mounting tape (available on Amazon) to effectively secure your light strip where you want it. To ensure the lights last as long as possible, check out this article for more operating tips.
Common LED light strips
Anyone who’s used them knows that LED light strips can do amazing things in a room, and they’re even more amazing after you figure out how to add a dimmer into the mix (our tutorial). The different colored lights add atmosphere and highlight features.
It’s also fun to play with the stripes and see what designs you can create on the wall. If you are looking to add LED strip lights or are just starting to decorate with them, here are some popular models.
Minger LED strip lights
Minger LED light bars (on Amazon) are not your standard LED light bar. That’s why it’s fun to decorate with them. In case you don’t know what that is, these are lights that actually change color. You can set it to one color or have them alternate from pink, red, green, and blue.
At 16.4 feet to use, the light string is perfect for any room in your home. The electrical strip is not waterproof but you can use them in bathrooms and kitchens and they are also easy to install as the adhesive keeps the strip securely in place.
The strip is also slightly flexible, giving you more room for creative designs. It even comes with a remote control for easy control.
Phopollo LED light bar
Depending on your room size, with over 65 feet of LED lights, the Phopollo LED strip (on Amazon) could be long enough to wrap around all four walls. If you want to make a statement, these color-changing LED lights are the answer.
The thin light strip comes coiled on a wheel, making installation quick and easy. You don’t have to worry about the long string lights getting tangled when you mount them on the wall.
The adhesive backing will keep the light strip in place for years. Because the strip uses LED bulbs, you know they’re built to last. You can choose to have multiple colors or a single one.
It’s up to you what you create with the light strips. An included remote control makes controlling the lights a breeze.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope you’ve realized that it’s not that hard to reattach LED light strips, which are probably one of the most convenient lighting features a person can add to their home.
Regardless of what you need to move them for, there is no need to be afraid of this operation, since you can do it without removing the paint from the walls or damaging the wallpaper. You can remove and reuse your LED light strips.
It just takes some time and a hair dryer. Heating the glue before attempting to remove the LED light strips is the best way to do this because once the glue has softened the strip will almost peel off.
You need to unclip it at the corner and carefully peel off the strip. If you take your time, both your LED strip light and the wall should be undamaged. Apply new glue and the molding is ready for a new wall.
How do you store already used LED lights?
After wrapping the lights around the outside, I store the cord on the inside of the can for safe keeping. For the shorter lengths, I use an empty TP or paper towel roll. Again, just wrap the lights around the roll then put the roll and the battery box in a zip top bag for safe keeping.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
One of my favorite things to decorate with is wired LED lights. I love the little sparkling glow they give off without showing how they connect. This year I used several different fairy lights in my house. They were of different lengths, some with batteries and some plug-ins. It’s almost time to dismantle all my pretty lamps now and I want to make sure they stay in excellent condition until I use them again. I store my lights in 2 ways. For the longer strands, I gently wind them onto an empty, clean tin. After wrapping the lights around the outside, I store the cord on the inside of the tin for safekeeping. For the shorter lengths, I use an empty TP or paper towel roll. Again, simply wrap the lights around the reel and place the reel and battery box in a zipped bag for safekeeping. Be sure to remove the batteries from their packaging to prevent them from corroding during storage.
I hope this organizing tip helps you, friends. Always, always, let your little light shine!
How many LED strips can you connect together?
This is no different with LED strips. Vetco recommends, as a general rule, not to connect more than three complete strips end-to-end without adding in extra, higher gauge power wire or additional power supply units down the line.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
Written by Christopher on Wednesday September 26, 2018.
That’s a fantastic question that we get asked quite a bit here at Vetco.
Depending on how you hang the strips, the length options are almost limitless. There are a few logistical considerations to consider when doing this.
When determining how many strips to connect together, remember that wire resistance increases with distance. This is no different with LED strips. As a general rule, Vetco recommends connecting no more than three full strips in a row without adding an additional, heavier gauge power cord or additional power supplies in the line.
Types of LED strips covered in this article:
-Warm white (waterproof and non-waterproof)
-Cool White (waterproof and non-waterproof)
-RGB strips (waterproof and non-waterproof)
-Addressable RGB strips (waterproof and non-waterproof)
Below I will break down the logistics by type of LED strip that Vetco carries.
Warm white (VETRGBSTPWWT) and cool white (VETRGBSTPCW) LED strips.
These are the simplest LED strips we carry. Just give them 12 volts DC and they glow. They respect polarity but will not be damaged if you connect them incorrectly.
Both our warm white and cool white LED strips have 300 LEDs in their 16.4 feet. This adds up to about 1.5 amps at 12 VDC. That means if you’re wired in parallel, each strip you add to the string will add the same amount of current again. So two strips would be about 3.0 amps at 12 VDC. And 3 strips would be at least 4.5 amps at 12vdc and so on. Additional strips should have additional supporting power cords or additional power supplies added in line.
RGB (Red Green Blue) stripes. CONTRACT STRIP
These strips are slightly different because although they have the same number of LED modules (300) in a 16.4 foot roll, they actually have three times as many light emitting diodes as regular LED strips. Because each of the 300 modules on the strip contains three colors. A red, a blue and a green LED. This means that when the RGB strips are set to white, they draw almost three times the power of the regular white strips at full brightness. A 16.4 foot reel of RGB LEDs draws approximately 3.0 amps at 12 VDC. So connecting two of these strips end to end would result in a total draw of around 6 to 7 amps. Remember that with direct current there are losses in the line.
When using three RGB strips, Vetco recommends at least a 10A 12V DC power supply.
This means that we recommend connecting a maximum of two RGB strips in a row. We’ve seen people do three consistently, but we don’t recommend it. Especially if you’re using one of the remote control boxes that allow you to perform color changes and flashing patterns. You can check that here. VUPN6983
And that’s the fun.
Addressable RGB LED strips. VETADDRGB
First of all, note that these are 5 volt DC strips! Not 12VDC! This is a very common mistake and will kill your addressable strip very quickly. Not to mention killing your microcontroller.
Addressable RGB strips are really cool because they let you control a lot more than the previously mentioned strips. This allows you to individually select which LED lights up, which color it lights up and with what brightness it lights up. Or if it lights up at all.
This allows advanced lighting patterns, color schemes and designs to be used.
The individually addressable RGB strips draw about the same amount of power as the regular RGB strips at full brightness in white at 5 VDC, at approximately 2.8 amps per 16 feet.
Therefore, the same rule should be followed for the addressable ones as for the regular RGB ones. We recommend no more than two consecutive strips connected end to end. If you do more, you’ll need to add a separate power bus with heavier gauge wire to run the strips along the line, or add additional power supplies along the line. With these strips, the data signal runs through the central wire for all strips. This wire is ok to connect end to end on as many strips as you want to connect one at a time. This is because this cable only transmits data. No energy. And the best part is that the controller chips in each LED module on the strips repeat and amplify the signal. So there’s no signal loss across the board.
Remarks:
One thing to note is that you should never connect LED strips in series.
It should also be noted that there is a limit to how many strips you can connect END to END. I wouldn’t do more than two. You will need to run additional power wires for the additional strips along the line. The wire in LED strips is very thin. You will notice that your stripe will darken or change color as the line goes further down. This means you have too many strips connected “end to end” without an additional power cable, or you don’t have a powerful enough power supply, or both.
If you want to connect more than two regular RGB LED strips through a single controller, you MUST purchase one with a higher wattage/amp rating. We do not stock them as normal stock but can help with special orders. This will also likely result in you having to run an extra power cable to connect to any strip beyond 2.
You should always use a power supply rated for a higher amperage than your project requires. This means the power supply wouldn’t have to work as hard to do the same job. It generates less heat and lasts much longer.
When permanently installing LED strips of any type, we always recommend soldering the strips rather than using clips or other connection methods which are less reliable. A good example is this: if you are installing RGB strips high up on the roof of your house, you don’t want to have to keep climbing up to fix clips that have come loose or are corroded from oxidation.
As a special thank you to our customers and blog readers, we would like to offer a 10% discount on your entire order with the CODE: “BLOG2000”.
For our customer value month you only need to use the code “BLOG2000” in your shopping cart when paying.
And when the box appears, enter the corresponding current active promo code. In this case it is: BLOG2000
And keep looking!
Thank you for being a Vetco customer!
Can you cut LED strip lights to size?
In general, if the light strip has a cut line, it can be cut; if it has not, it is best not to cut it. And you can use LED strip light connectors to reconnect the light strip after cutting.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
A: As an LED strip light has a fixed length and it is not always possible to always buy strip lights in a suitable length, users have often asked if a strip light can be cut to a fixed length. In fact, there are many brands and products of LED strip lights, so whether a strip light can still be used normally after cutting is not a question that can be answered in general. It really depends on the specific product. In general, if the light strip has a cutting line, it can be cut; If it doesn’t, it’s best not to cut it. And you can use LED strip light connectors to reconnect the light strip after cutting.
Part 1. How to Cut LED Strip Lights
Part 2. How to Fix LED Strips After Cutting
Part 3. Using LED Strips After Cutting
Part 1. How to Cut LED Strip Lights
Before you cut light strips, please make sure the strip you bought can be cut; otherwise the light strip may become unusable due to cutting; At the same time, you must remember to disconnect the power supply. Directly cutting a light bar connected to a power supply is extremely dangerous.
Step 1. Measure the length
If the LED strip light you bought is too long, you need to cut off the excess part. The first thing you should do is measure the right length. If you accidentally cut the strip too short, your effort will be for nothing.
Step 2. Look for the scissors logo on the light strip
For the convenience of users, manufacturers have placed a scissor logo on the cuttable portion of their LED light bars. To avoid damage, you need to find the scissors logo before cutting.
Step 3. Cut with scissors
The last step is to use your scissors and cut off the excess strip along the spot marked by the scissors logo. Accidentally cutting diagonally can cause a light to stop working, so be sure to cut straight.
Part 2. How to Fix LED Strips After Cutting
Q: I bought a LED strip and used part of it, but I want to use the remaining part as well. Is that possible?
A: If the LED strip light you bought can be cut, the remaining part you cut off can no longer be used. If you want to reconnect them after cutting, you need to use an extra 4-pin connector to reconnect. However, if the operation is not correct when cutting and connecting, it may also cause the light strip to stop working properly. We therefore advise you to check the length of the strip before cutting it and avoid having to rejoin it after cutting.
If you need to reconnect LED light strips after cutting, you will need an extra 4-pin connector. In general, this product is not included in a LED strip light kit and must be purchased separately.
Step 1. Purchase a suitable 4-pin connector
There are many types of light bar connectors, so you need to choose the right one based on the type of light bar. If your light strip is 10mm wide, the 4 pin connector you choose must be suitable for 10mm. If your lightstrip is 8mm wide and you buy a 10mm plug it won’t work. However, the 4-pin connectors are the most commonly used. The Lepro 4 pin light bar connector pack includes 5 pieces of L-shaped and 5 pieces of line-shaped connectors, which are suitable for connecting 90° corners as well as extending along a straight line, which can be used in almost all occasions.
Step 2. Open the connector
If the connector has a cover, you need to open the connector on the side.
Step 3. Insert the light strip into the connector
Insert the two cut ends of the LED light strip into the connector’s mounting clips. At this point you should check that they are not swapped by following the picture instruction.
Step 4. Cover the connector
After placing the light strip, close the connector cover and try to see if the light strip lights up normally after the power is connected. If the connected parts do not light up normally, try adjusting the connection point between the connector and the light strip.
In general, it’s a bit of a hassle to reconnect the strip after cutting. Not only do you have to buy additional plugs, but any improper operation can also render the strip unusable. So it is best to pay attention to the right length and avoid waste.
Part 3. Using LED Strips After Cutting
Q: Will a cut LED light strip still work?
A: Some light strips can be cut to a specific length and will continue to work. However, they must be cut according to the cutting mark. There are some tiny and precise parts on LED light strips. Accidentally cutting in the wrong place may cause the light to stop working normally.
After you cut the light strip, you can put the necessary parts in the right position and turn on the lights by following these steps. The following steps use Lepro LED light bars as an example:
Step 1. Make sure the wall is dry and clean
If you need to install the light strip on a wall, please clean the wall first. If the wall is dusty or wet, you cannot install the LED light strip properly.
Step 2. Paste the LED light strip
After cleaning the wall, you can tear off the cover of the 3M super glue behind the light bar and stick it where you want.
Step 3. Connect the LED light strip
If you bought a LED strip light kit, it should come with a connector and a controller. You should use the connector to connect the light strip and the controller. Pay attention to the front and back when connecting the light bar and connector. If the light strip is inserted the wrong way round, it will not work properly.
Step 4. Plug in the power and turn on the LED light strip
The final step is to connect the controller to power and you should see the LED light strips are on.
If after performing the above steps you find that the LED light strip still does not light up, please check if there is no connection problem. If the setup is normal, it means the light strip may have been damaged during the cutting process. So be careful and always cut according to the logo on the strip.
Can you Restick LED lights?
To remove and restick LED light strips, unplug the light strip and then use a hairdryer to heat the adhesive backing. Then, you can carefully remove it from the wall without damaging the paint. After that, using an inexpensive double-sided sticky backing will allow you to mount the light strip somewhere else.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
To remove and re-stick LED light strips, unplug the light strip and then use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive backing. Then you can carefully remove it from the wall without damaging the paint. You can then mount the light strip in a different location using an inexpensive double-sided adhesive film.
As you’ve probably just learned, removing an LED light strip isn’t that difficult, although you do need to be careful. Another point worth noting is that you also need to apply an adhesive backing to reattach the light strip to another wall. Let’s go over a few details on how to do this properly so that you can effectively reuse and recycle your LED light strips.
How to reuse LED light strips
One of the advantages of using LED light strips is that you can take them with you. They are not like lighting fixtures that have to stay in the house or apartment once installed.
Because the lights look great when set up, there’s no reason to leave them behind when moving house. Once you’ve settled into your new home, you can put your favorite decoration back on the wall as long as you take the right steps.
On the other hand, you may not be moving but would like to mount the light strips on a different wall or room. If your entertainment system is audio visual, the bright LED lights can affect picture quality. Whatever your reason for moving the stripes, it’s not difficult to remove them from your walls with a little patience.
How to remove LED light strips without damaging your walls
Unless the LED strip lights are falling off due to a change in the color of your walls, you probably don’t want to have to touch up missing color sections. LED strip lights have a strong adhesive backing that keeps them securely on the wall. The adhesive is capable of stripping paint. You don’t want to rip the strips off, instead take your time and gently peel them off.
It’s best to start at one end. Trying to peel off the center strip is frustrating. It can also damage the molding and the wall. Once you’ve freed one end, carefully work your way down the strip until it’s completely free. Now you can reattach it to another wall.
And it’s worth noting that sometimes the adhesive backing is just too strong and doesn’t come off cleanly. In that case, just assume that you’ll either have to leave the light there or repaint it, and plan accordingly.
However, most models use an adhesive strip that, while strong, will give way if you apply some heat. We’ll discuss how you can use heat to perhaps protect your wall and streamline the removal of your light strip in our step-by-step section below.
Here’s how to re-stick your light strip somewhere else
The goal is to reuse your LED light strips after you take them off. There’s no reason why you can’t use the strips on another wall. The only problem is that the light strips will last long after you remove them from the wall as the self-adhesive backing is lost when you take it off.
Don’t worry though, because you have a solution, and it’s easy and cheap too, so don’t worry there either. By simply purchasing and applying another double-sided backing such as Large Command Strips (on Amazon) or double-sided mounting tape (also on Amazon) you can reapply your lightstrip.
And if you use the command strips, you might have to use a ton, but you’re more likely to be able to remove the strips without damaging the paint since these strips are specifically designed to protect the walls.
Remove and reattach LED light bars in 4 easy steps
When you’re ready to detach LED light strips and reattach them to a different location, there are 4 simple steps to follow. Let’s start with the first and most basic, peel off the light strip and also heat the glue.
Step 1: Peel off the light strip and heat the glue
It seems obvious to unplug any electrical device before working on it, but light strips are a little different. Sometimes the extra light is helpful when trying to see the end of the strip. Although LED lights are low voltage, they still plug into a 120V outlet. Unplugging the lights ensures you don’t get electrocuted.
The adhesive on the back of the LED light strip does not come off easily as it is designed to stick to a surface for years. If you’re not careful, pulling the strip will remove paint. To avoid damaging the wall, heat the adhesive before removing the light strip (a hair dryer works great for this). You can concentrate the heat exactly where you want it.
Slowly move the blow dryer down the length of the strip, perhaps on low to medium heat. You want all of the glue to soften and come off without causing damage. It makes it easier to peel off the strip without removing the wall paint. Apply the heat until you feel it become easier to peel off the strip.
Step 2: Find an end and a corner
It’s easier to start at the end of the strip, and it doesn’t matter which one. Find a corner that is easy for you to reach. You’ll also need a thin, flat object, such as a coin, that works well, especially dimes. You can also use a credit card or butter knife. Whatever item you use, be careful not to chip the paint.
You want to slide the flat object under the corner. The glue should be soft from the heat, so all you have to do is work it in. Once you’ve lifted a corner, keep wiggling the object under the length of string until you reach the other end.
The reciprocating motion does not scratch the wall surface, while the light strip is also gently lifted and removed. If the glue is very stubborn, get a helper to hold the hair dryer and continuously heat the glue while moving along the light strip.
You should gently tug on the strip if the adhesive separates. Pulling too hard can damage the molding and wall. You won’t want to stop removing the LED light strip once you’ve started. The hair dryer only softened the glue a little. After cooling, the glue hardens again and you run the risk of damaging the wall.
Step 3: Remove the sticky residue
After removing the LED light strip, you will see a sticky residue on the wall. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean the wall is damaged, it just means it just needs a good cleaning. If there is only a small residue, you can use your thumb.
Rub the stuck-on adhesive in a circular motion. It causes it to bunch up and you can easily lift it off your wall. If there is a lot of it, take a soft sponge or rag and clean it with soap and water.
Step 4: Reapply glue and reuse
Once you know where you will be reusing the LED light strips, it’s time to reapply the glue. As listed above, you can use one of two great options: large command strips (available on Amazon) or double-sided mounting tape (available on Amazon) to effectively secure your light strip where you want it. To ensure the lights last as long as possible, check out this article for more operating tips.
Common LED light strips
Anyone who’s used them knows that LED light strips can do amazing things in a room, and they’re even more amazing after you figure out how to add a dimmer into the mix (our tutorial). The different colored lights add atmosphere and highlight features.
It’s also fun to play with the stripes and see what designs you can create on the wall. If you are looking to add LED strip lights or are just starting to decorate with them, here are some popular models.
Minger LED strip lights
Minger LED light bars (on Amazon) are not your standard LED light bar. That’s why it’s fun to decorate with them. In case you don’t know what that is, these are lights that actually change color. You can set it to one color or have them alternate from pink, red, green, and blue.
At 16.4 feet to use, the light string is perfect for any room in your home. The electrical strip is not waterproof but you can use them in bathrooms and kitchens and they are also easy to install as the adhesive keeps the strip securely in place.
The strip is also slightly flexible, giving you more room for creative designs. It even comes with a remote control for easy control.
Phopollo LED light bar
Depending on your room size, with over 65 feet of LED lights, the Phopollo LED strip (on Amazon) could be long enough to wrap around all four walls. If you want to make a statement, these color-changing LED lights are the answer.
The thin light strip comes coiled on a wheel, making installation quick and easy. You don’t have to worry about the long string lights getting tangled when you mount them on the wall.
The adhesive backing will keep the light strip in place for years. Because the strip uses LED bulbs, you know they’re built to last. You can choose to have multiple colors or a single one.
It’s up to you what you create with the light strips. An included remote control makes controlling the lights a breeze.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope you’ve realized that it’s not that hard to reattach LED light strips, which are probably one of the most convenient lighting features a person can add to their home.
Regardless of what you need to move them for, there is no need to be afraid of this operation, since you can do it without removing the paint from the walls or damaging the wallpaper. You can remove and reuse your LED light strips.
It just takes some time and a hair dryer. Heating the glue before attempting to remove the LED light strips is the best way to do this because once the glue has softened the strip will almost peel off.
You need to unclip it at the corner and carefully peel off the strip. If you take your time, both your LED strip light and the wall should be undamaged. Apply new glue and the molding is ready for a new wall.
Can you super glue LED lights?
Can You Use Super Glue On LED Strip Lights? If you want your strip lights to be stuck to a surface forever, you may be tempted to reach for super glue… DON’T! A little known fact is that super glue is unsuitable for use on materials such as plastic, polystyrene, and silk.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
How about some ambient lighting to place around your kitchen cabinets? There are also LED strips for this.
Whatever your needs, chances are that LED strips offer a cost-effective, versatile and easy-to-use solution. What’s not to love?
Most LED strips have a 3M adhesive backing. Once the surface is prepared and the strips are cut to size, the adhesive backing can be peeled off. Press the strip onto the intended surface with light pressure.
With LED strips it is very easy to create the desired lighting effect in your house or property. But it’s not always easy.
LED strips often fall short when it comes to their adhesive backing – it’s not strong enough, doesn’t stick well, deteriorates over time, etc.
That’s why I want to show you how you can maximize the chance that your LED strips will also form a good bond with the surface they are applied to.
Read on for my easy guide to installing LED strips on a wall and what to do if you find them sagging or peeling.
How to stick LED strips on the wall
You’ve just bought a 5 meter roll of LED strip lights, now what?
Let’s get in right away.
If you haven’t bought strip lights yet, be sure to check out my guide to LED strip lighting.
Step #1: Measure
The first thing you need to do is measure the area where you want to attach the lights. To do this, use a ruler or tape measure. No guesses.
Step #2: Crop
Cut your LED strip to the right size if needed. To do this, use a sharp knife or scissors.
Cut only on the designated cutting lines. Cutting your strip in the wrong place can damage the circuitry and prevent some of the LEDs from working.
Remember if you cut your LED strips you will probably need to solder a new connector wire.
Step #3: Prepare your surface
The adhesive backing of LED strips works best on smooth, clean surfaces. If grease or dust gets in the way, the bond between the adhesive and the surface is limited and they cannot form a strong bond.
To minimize this, dampen a cloth with warm water or rubbing alcohol and rub the surface vigorously back and forth. When satisfied, dry the area with a lint-free rag or paper towel.
Step #4: Peel off the adhesive backing
Starting at one end of the strip, peel off the plastic sticker to reveal the adhesive backing. To prevent airborne dust or dirt from sticking to the adhesive, peel off just a little at a time.
Step #5: Position and press
Position the LED strip in the right place and press it onto the surface with your hand. Continue peeling, positioning and pressing until the entire length is glued in place. Take your time with it.
Step #6: Light Them Up!
Plug the connection cable into your power supply and switch on your LED strips!
How to prevent LED strips from falling off the wall
While 3M tape is considered the gold standard for adhesives, it’s not unbeatable. LED strips are notorious for falling, sagging, and peeling off walls. So what can you do about it?
The secret is to play to the strengths of the strip lights.
As I mentioned before, adhesives don’t stick well to rough, bumpy, or unclean surfaces.
So play to your strengths, only attach LED strips to smooth, flat surfaces that have been thoroughly cleaned.
If your surface is uneven, consider doubling up on the adhesives or opting for a different LED light type.
Likewise, adhesives typically do not perform well in damp and/or humid environments. Excessive heat will change the consistency of the glue and make it less durable.
So if you live in a hot country, it may be beneficial to install your LEDs near a window or air vent.
The effect of gravity also causes LED strips to fall more often when placed on their side or pointed downwards. If it is not possible to mount your light bars upwards, you can try mounting clips or a mounting channel to add more stability to your setup.
How to re-stick LED strip lights.
Don’t worry if your preventive measures fail and your LED strips come loose! Thankfully, there are a few ways to save them.
It’s up to you to decide whether to peel off the entire strip or just focus on the patch that has lost its stickiness. In any case, you must first remove the old glue.
Unfortunately, the adhesive is not reusable – once it has bonded to one surface, it will be difficult to make another strong bond to another surface.
To remove old adhesive, soak an old rag in acetone, Goof Off, WD-40, (Amazon), or a citrus-based cleaner and rub the adhesive vigorously. Be careful not to oversaturate your LEDs and damage water.
From here you can select a new adhesive. This can be more W3 tape, extra strong double sided tape, command strips, glue dots or glue clips. The possibilities are endless.
How to glue LED strips without glue?
But what if you’re worried about the glue damaging your walls or furniture? Is there an alternative?
One solution is Loctite Fun Tak Assembly Putty. This is described as a flexible, versatile alternative to nails, glue or staples.
Use your hands to shape a strip of putty into the shape you want, then press it onto the back of your LEDs. The strip can then be glued to the intended surface.
Alternatively, you could use cable ties to attach your LED strips to an object.
Use clear cable ties to avoid disrupting the light output of the LED. The example of how not to do this is in the featured image of this post.
Lesson learned.
Understandably, this doesn’t apply to all scenarios – zip ties can’t be wrapped around your kitchen cabinets. Nevertheless, they can be attached to your stair railing.
Can you staple LED strip lights?
As for stapling your LED strips, the answer depends on the width of your staples versus the width of your lights.
If your staples are wide enough to fit over the LEDs like an archway, there shouldn’t be any problems.
But if your staples are narrower and need to poke through the LED strip, there’s a chance you’ll damage the internal circuitry and some of the lights will stop working.
Instead, you can use specially designed light bar mounts, just like these ones from Amazon.
The only downside is that you have to drill the hole. So, brackets work well if you plan to permanently mount your light strips.
frequently asked Questions
I’ve mentioned many different glues and tactics in this article, but some of you probably still have questions. So let’s dive in.
Can you use super glue on LED strips?
If you want your strip lights to stick to a surface forever, you might be tempted to reach for superglue…
NOT!
A little-known fact is that superglue is unsuitable for materials like plastic, styrofoam and silk.
This is because the glue hardens through a chemical reaction that causes it to heat up and cool down rapidly. However, this reaction causes certain materials to degrade over time.
If your LED strips contain plastic, superglue can essentially cause irreversible damage.
Can you use hot glue?
Is hot glue better in that sense? Surprisingly yes.
Hot glue doesn’t contain the same harsh chemicals as super glue, meaning it’s much safer and won’t damage your LED strips.
The only thing to watch out for is the temperature of the hot glue. If it’s too hot you could melt through your LED strips. But that’s unlikely.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why LED strips have revolutionized the way we light up our homes. They are immensely versatile, meaning they can meet all of your lighting needs.
While I agree that the W3 tape commonly used on LED strips could use an improvement, honestly it could be a lot worse.
What LED strip glue have you tried? What have you had the most success with?
Write a comment below.
7 Common LED Strip FAILS and How To Avoid Them
See some more details on the topic can you relocate led strip lights here:
How easy is it to relocate the LED strips? : r/Hue – Reddit
I use a combination of 3M Command poster hanger adhesive tabs and Command flat cord clips depending on the installation requirements. They …
Source: www.reddit.com
Date Published: 8/9/2022
View: 1030
Can you restick or reuse LED light strips? – Lightovo
Take your hair dryer and set it as hot as you can get it (but don’t burn yourself!) and start blowing hot air on the sticky se, moving the …
Source: lightovo.com
Date Published: 9/4/2021
View: 2936
How To Remove And Restick LED Light Strips In 4 Easy Steps
LED light strips are great for home decoration and many even use them for outdoor lighting. The simple design makes it easy to upgrade a room. The lights look great around your audio setup, and with their 3mm backing, they’re a breeze too. However, sometimes you need to move your LED strip lights. Perhaps you are moving to a new location or want to put the lights in a different location. The question that remains is how to remove and reuse your LED light strips.
To remove and re-stick LED light strips, unplug the light strip and then use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive backing. Then you can carefully remove it from the wall without damaging the paint. You can then mount the light strip in a different location using an inexpensive double-sided adhesive film.
As you’ve probably just learned, removing an LED light strip isn’t that difficult, although you do need to be careful. Another point worth noting is that you also need to apply an adhesive backing to reattach the light strip to another wall. Let’s go over a few details on how to do this properly so that you can effectively reuse and recycle your LED light strips.
How to reuse LED light strips
One of the advantages of using LED light strips is that you can take them with you. They are not like lighting fixtures that have to stay in the house or apartment once installed.
Because the lights look great when set up, there’s no reason to leave them behind when moving house. Once you’ve settled into your new home, you can put your favorite decoration back on the wall as long as you take the right steps.
On the other hand, you may not be moving but would like to mount the light strips on a different wall or room. If your entertainment system is audio visual, the bright LED lights can affect picture quality. Whatever your reason for moving the stripes, it’s not difficult to remove them from your walls with a little patience.
How to remove LED light strips without damaging your walls
Unless the LED strip lights are falling off due to a change in the color of your walls, you probably don’t want to have to touch up missing color sections. LED strip lights have a strong adhesive backing that keeps them securely on the wall. The adhesive is capable of stripping paint. You don’t want to rip the strips off, instead take your time and gently peel them off.
It’s best to start at one end. Trying to peel off the center strip is frustrating. It can also damage the molding and the wall. Once you’ve freed one end, carefully work your way down the strip until it’s completely free. Now you can reattach it to another wall.
And it’s worth noting that sometimes the adhesive backing is just too strong and doesn’t come off cleanly. In that case, just assume that you’ll either have to leave the light there or repaint it, and plan accordingly.
However, most models use an adhesive strip that, while strong, will give way if you apply some heat. We’ll discuss how you can use heat to perhaps protect your wall and streamline the removal of your light strip in our step-by-step section below.
Here’s how to re-stick your light strip somewhere else
The goal is to reuse your LED light strips after you take them off. There’s no reason why you can’t use the strips on another wall. The only problem is that the light strips will last long after you remove them from the wall as the self-adhesive backing is lost when you take it off.
Don’t worry though, because you have a solution, and it’s easy and cheap too, so don’t worry there either. By simply purchasing and applying another double-sided backing such as Large Command Strips (on Amazon) or double-sided mounting tape (also on Amazon) you can reapply your lightstrip.
And if you use the command strips, you might have to use a ton, but you’re more likely to be able to remove the strips without damaging the paint since these strips are specifically designed to protect the walls.
Remove and reattach LED light bars in 4 easy steps
When you’re ready to detach LED light strips and reattach them to a different location, there are 4 simple steps to follow. Let’s start with the first and most basic, peel off the light strip and also heat the glue.
Step 1: Peel off the light strip and heat the glue
It seems obvious to unplug any electrical device before working on it, but light strips are a little different. Sometimes the extra light is helpful when trying to see the end of the strip. Although LED lights are low voltage, they still plug into a 120V outlet. Unplugging the lights ensures you don’t get electrocuted.
The adhesive on the back of the LED light strip does not come off easily as it is designed to stick to a surface for years. If you’re not careful, pulling the strip will remove paint. To avoid damaging the wall, heat the adhesive before removing the light strip (a hair dryer works great for this). You can concentrate the heat exactly where you want it.
Slowly move the blow dryer down the length of the strip, perhaps on low to medium heat. You want all of the glue to soften and come off without causing damage. It makes it easier to peel off the strip without removing the wall paint. Apply the heat until you feel it become easier to peel off the strip.
Step 2: Find an end and a corner
It’s easier to start at the end of the strip, and it doesn’t matter which one. Find a corner that is easy for you to reach. You’ll also need a thin, flat object, such as a coin, that works well, especially dimes. You can also use a credit card or butter knife. Whatever item you use, be careful not to chip the paint.
You want to slide the flat object under the corner. The glue should be soft from the heat, so all you have to do is work it in. Once you’ve lifted a corner, keep wiggling the object under the length of string until you reach the other end.
The reciprocating motion does not scratch the wall surface, while the light strip is also gently lifted and removed. If the glue is very stubborn, get a helper to hold the hair dryer and continuously heat the glue while moving along the light strip.
You should gently tug on the strip if the adhesive separates. Pulling too hard can damage the molding and wall. You won’t want to stop removing the LED light strip once you’ve started. The hair dryer only softened the glue a little. After cooling, the glue hardens again and you run the risk of damaging the wall.
Step 3: Remove the sticky residue
After removing the LED light strip, you will see a sticky residue on the wall. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean the wall is damaged, it just means it just needs a good cleaning. If there is only a small residue, you can use your thumb.
Rub the stuck-on adhesive in a circular motion. It causes it to bunch up and you can easily lift it off your wall. If there is a lot of it, take a soft sponge or rag and clean it with soap and water.
Step 4: Reapply glue and reuse
Once you know where you will be reusing the LED light strips, it’s time to reapply the glue. As listed above, you can use one of two great options: large command strips (available on Amazon) or double-sided mounting tape (available on Amazon) to effectively secure your light strip where you want it. To ensure the lights last as long as possible, check out this article for more operating tips.
Common LED light strips
Anyone who’s used them knows that LED light strips can do amazing things in a room, and they’re even more amazing after you figure out how to add a dimmer into the mix (our tutorial). The different colored lights add atmosphere and highlight features.
It’s also fun to play with the stripes and see what designs you can create on the wall. If you are looking to add LED strip lights or are just starting to decorate with them, here are some popular models.
Minger LED strip lights
Minger LED light bars (on Amazon) are not your standard LED light bar. That’s why it’s fun to decorate with them. In case you don’t know what that is, these are lights that actually change color. You can set it to one color or have them alternate from pink, red, green, and blue.
At 16.4 feet to use, the light string is perfect for any room in your home. The electrical strip is not waterproof but you can use them in bathrooms and kitchens and they are also easy to install as the adhesive keeps the strip securely in place.
The strip is also slightly flexible, giving you more room for creative designs. It even comes with a remote control for easy control.
Phopollo LED light bar
Depending on your room size, with over 65 feet of LED lights, the Phopollo LED strip (on Amazon) could be long enough to wrap around all four walls. If you want to make a statement, these color-changing LED lights are the answer.
The thin light strip comes coiled on a wheel, making installation quick and easy. You don’t have to worry about the long string lights getting tangled when you mount them on the wall.
The adhesive backing will keep the light strip in place for years. Because the strip uses LED bulbs, you know they’re built to last. You can choose to have multiple colors or a single one.
It’s up to you what you create with the light strips. An included remote control makes controlling the lights a breeze.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope you’ve realized that it’s not that hard to reattach LED light strips, which are probably one of the most convenient lighting features a person can add to their home.
Regardless of what you need to move them for, there is no need to be afraid of this operation, since you can do it without removing the paint from the walls or damaging the wallpaper. You can remove and reuse your LED light strips.
It just takes some time and a hair dryer. Heating the glue before attempting to remove the LED light strips is the best way to do this because once the glue has softened the strip will almost peel off.
You need to unclip it at the corner and carefully peel off the strip. If you take your time, both your LED strip light and the wall should be undamaged. Apply new glue and the molding is ready for a new wall.
How To Remove LED Strip Lights To Reuse Them? Here’s The Complete Guide
If there’s anything that has the potential to make a drab and gloomy space look modern and alive, it’s ambient lighting. There was a time when most people thought of lamps and chandeliers when they thought of modern lighting. However, LED light strips, once relegated as a lighting novelty, are now stealing the show.
I recently installed LED light strips behind my TV and under my bed frame as accent lights. Surprised at how it enhanced the look of my house, my friend asked me, “Can you reuse LED lights?” As soon as I nodded, he decided to move his existing LED light strips to create the look of a painting in his bedroom emphasize . It is a tremendous advantage of LED strip lights that these lights can be removed and reused, opening up a world of possibilities for the owner to experiment with the look of their home.
When my friend decided to reuse his LED light strips in his bedroom, he was concerned about how to remove LED light strips without stripping the paint. It prompted me to help him and write this article to help my readers in their quest to remove LED strip lights and reattach LED lights.
For those readers who are concerned about the effects of LED light strips on the eyes, I recommend reading the article I wrote last week. The article will help you debunk the facts and myths about the dangers of LED strip lights.
Why you might want to remove LED strips from the wall?
There are a few reasons why users are wondering how to remove LED lights without peeling the paint. Here are some such scenarios,
Your LED light bar is not working.
Your LED strip light falls.
You want to move your LED light bar from one area to another.
You move to another house.
Checklist to look at before moving your LED strip
If you are planning on moving your LED light strips to a different area and are wondering how to remove LED light strips from the wall, I would recommend taking a step back and going through the checklist I provide below. Use the list to determine if your lights are compatible with the area you intend to install them. Going through this list before figuring out how to remove LED strips can save you from making a mistake.
Here’s what you need to check:
Size: It’s only logical to measure the size of your LED light strip and the area where you want to reposition your light. I’m sure you don’t want to go through the hassle of removing your light bar only to realize it doesn’t fit the area you want.
Connectivity: Most smart LED light strips allow you to change their color and brightness using a mobile app or remote control. If you’re planning to install your light in a hard-to-reach place, make sure you can easily connect and control it.
Power Source: You must consider the power source to connect your LED light strips. Make sure there is a suitable power source near the area where you plan to reuse your lights. If your lights are battery powered and not AC powered, you shouldn’t worry about this part.
Color: Experts do not recommend installing blue LED lights in the bedroom, as blue light suppresses the body’s production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone responsible for sleep in humans. While reduced melatonin can be a great thing in the morning, it can affect the body’s sleep pattern at night.
How to remove LED strip lights
Step 1: Disconnect the light from the power source
I do not recommend handling electrical or electronic equipment that is turned on. Although LED light bars operate on low voltage, they still connect to a 120V supply. To avoid shock, unplug your LED strip before removing it. While you’re wondering how to remove LED strips without damaging the wall, it’s important to ensure your safety.
Step 2: Heat the glue
After disconnecting your LED strip from the power source, you now need to be careful when removing LED strips without removing paint. The adhesives hold things together efficiently and don’t easily peel off in their natural state. Heating the glue allows the light to be removed without damaging the wall. A hair dryer or heat gun works great for this purpose. Use heat on low or medium, just enough to soften the glue.
Step 3: Locate the end of the LED light strip
Once the LED strip is slightly heated you will notice that the adhesive is much softer and easier to pull. Locate the end of the light bar as it is much easier to remove the LED light bar from the end.
Step 4: Carefully remove the LED strip
This is the most important task where you must pay attention to how to remove LED lights without peeling the paint. Take a flat object like a butter knife or credit card and slide it under the corner of the LED light strip. Once you’ve successfully lifted the end, use the object to further remove the length of the light strip. Don’t get impatient with immediately forcibly pulling the strip, which will almost certainly damage your paintwork.
If you have trouble removing the light bar, have someone help you hold the hair dryer so the adhesive gets consistently warm and soft. This may leave some residue from the adhesive on the walls. Read the following section to learn how to remove LED strip adhesive from wall.
Step 5: Remove the remains of the glue
After successfully removing the LED strip, you will notice traces of adhesive residue on the wall. Remove it with your hands without leaving handprints on the wall. If your paint is washable, use a sponge or soft cloth to wipe away any remaining glue. A few moments of cleaning and you don’t have to worry about how to remove the LED strips adhesive.
How to re-stick LED lights
Reattaching the LED light is an easier task than removing it. There are several ways you can get LED lights to glow again. Using an adhesive to attach the LED light strip where you want it is the most common way to reattach your light, but if you’re not a fan of sticky adhesives you can use an alternative.
In this section of the article, I will help you reuse LED strips or re-stick LED lights.
Before using any of the following methods, make sure you remove all adhesive residue from your LED strip to efficiently re-stick the light without worrying about the light falling off.
How to re-stick LED light strips with glue
To re-stick the LED strip light with an adhesive, follow the given steps:
Step 1: Remove adhesive residue from your LED strip.
Step 2: Add a thin layer of glue on a small section of your LED strip.
Step 3: Wait 10-15 seconds.
Step 4: Stick the LED strip area on the wall.
Step 5: Repeat the steps with the rest of the light, doing one section at a time.
If you don’t want to use liquid glue, you can use double-sided tape to re-stick your LED light.
How to re-stick LED light strips with mounting putty
Using mounting putty is a common but efficient way to attach your LED light. However, this method is more permanent and will likely leave marks on the area if you plan on removing the lights in the future.
Here’s how you can do it
Step 1: Remove adhesive residue from your LED strip.
Step 2: Mold the mounting putty into the desired shape that fits the back of the LED strip.
Step 3: Carefully stick the mounting putty to the back of the LED light strip.
Step 4: Stick the LED strip light on the desired area.
How to re-glue LED light strips with hot glue
I’ve often been asked, “Can you reuse LED lights with hot glue or super glue?” I often advise against people using super glue to reattach their LED lights as it involves a chemical reaction that makes the surface brittle and they damaged. However, hot glue is a safe and efficient way to stick your lights.
Just make sure to regulate the temperature of the glue when doing the process. If the glue is too hot, it can damage the LED strip by melting it.
How to re-tape LED lights with cable ties
Cable ties are useful fasteners that people commonly use to manage their cables. These zip ties can be used as an alternative to adhesives while gluing your light. While we can’t use these zip ties on all surfaces, they work great on walls. Just be sure to use clear zip ties so the light output isn’t compromised or obstructed.
Ways to prevent LED lights from falling
You don’t always have to reattach the LED lights because you move the light to another location. Sometimes you may need to fix it because the LED light strip starts to fall off or detach from the wall. While the article must have helped you understand how to get LED lights to light up again, it is also important to know how to prevent these lights from falling out.
Here are some ways you can prevent your LED strip lights from falling.
Only stick the LED strips on flat surfaces, as glue cannot hold anything on uneven surfaces.
Make sure there is no dust on the surface where you want to attach the lights.
Make sure the surface you want to attach the lights to is dry.
The durability of most adhesives is affected by heat. Managing an optimal temperature in the environment will prevent your lights from falling down.
Gravity plays a crucial role in your LED lights falling down. If any part of your lamp starts to detach from the wall, make sure you fix it to avoid the influence of gravity.
Do not re-stick the LED strips that have been removed from an area if there is still glue on them.
frequently asked Questions
Q1 Do LED light strips use a lot of electricity?
Answer – LED light bars use less power than CFL or incandescent lights; Diode lamps are more energy efficient than incandescent lamps. LED strips are the most energy efficient lights available.
Q2. Can I use super glue to re-glue my LED strips?
Answer – Super glue hardens through chemical reactions. If your LED strip is made of plastic I do not recommend using super glue as it can damage the surface you are trying to stick it to or the LED strip itself. You can also use hot glue instead of super glue.
Q3 Will the LED strip light go out without the paint peeling off?
Answer – If your lights were attached to the wall with an adhesive, you shouldn’t worry about how to remove LED strips without damaging the wall. You can remove the lamp from the wall without the paint peeling off if you take the necessary precautions and are patient.
Conclusion
LED strips illuminate the house atmospherically and give us the flexibility to experiment. While most people love making changes to the look of their home, removing and reinstalling LED strip lights sounds like a tedious task. If you are someone who searched for “Can you reuse LED lights” and find out how to reuse LED strips, this article must have given you some helpful information.
If you follow the steps carefully and patiently, LED strip lights can be easily removed and reused without damage. If you have trouble removing and reattaching your lights, post in the comments section.
How to Cut Led Strip Lights (with Pictures)
This article was co-authored by Ricardo Mitchell. Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) certified construction company based in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) breach remediation and DOB (Department of Buildings) breach remediation ). Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience. This article has been viewed 186,175 times.
Article overview
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Cutting LED strip lights is easy as long as you cut them in the right place. Always cut your strip on the line between 2 sets of copper dots for easy connection to another strip or power source. Measure the place you want to attach the strips and cut your strip to the nearest cutting line between the copper dots. Use a quick connector to connect strips. All you have to do is peel back the connector’s small plastic tab, peel the adhesive backing from the end of the strip to reveal the copper terminals, insert the strip into the connector, and snap the plastic tab back on. For more tips including how to connect LED strips with wire and solder, read on!
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